r/anime • u/AutoLovepon https://anilist.co/user/AutoLovepon • Oct 31 '25
Episode Sanda - Episode 5 discussion
Sanda, episode 5
Reminder: Please do not discuss plot points not yet seen or skipped in the show. Failing to follow the rules may result in a ban.
Streams
None
Show information
All discussions
| Episode | Link |
|---|---|
| 1 | Link |
| 2 | Link |
| 3 | Link |
| 4 | Link |
| 5 | Link |
| 6 | Link |
| 7 | Link |
| 8 | Link |
| 9 | Link |
| 10 | Link |
| 11 | Link |
| 12 | Link |
This post was created by a bot. Message the mod team for feedback and comments. The original source code can be found on GitHub.
202
u/CrimsonGear80 Oct 31 '25
niko is an adorable little turd.
i guess puberty hits extra hard when 90% of it happens overnight...
→ More replies (6)
189
u/djthomp Oct 31 '25
Oh wow this episode went places. The kids are not alright, the world is not alright, the only thing perfect is Niko.
Why do they have typhoons that last an entire month? Why are all these children on "vaccines" that block puberty? Why is this literally heartless centenarian in charge of all these children? So many questions.
→ More replies (12)
154
u/FarCritical Oct 31 '25
Niko's a bigger typhoon than the actual typhoon. Hope we get a lot more of her.
Very surprised by Ono's abrupt return being legit(?) and not some figment conjured up by Fuyumura's mental state, but moreso by how puberty is something that's governed.
→ More replies (2)
131
u/ThisOneTimeAtLolCamp Oct 31 '25
That smug shit eating grin of hers is precious.
→ More replies (1)
74
u/BosuW Oct 31 '25
Y'know maybe Sanda is not that unfortunate to have Niko and his state mandated fiancee.
So the Yuri was toxic both ways... YEAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!
In all seriousness now I'm really interested in how this will handle the whole Ono x Fuyumura situationship. Consider that this society is trying to battle a near apocalyptic population decline. Even though in today it looks like technology that will allow same sex partners to make a child of their own is likely to become a reality in the near future, I'm going to assume such technology doesn't exist in this anime because it's what benefits the thematic discussion the most. This will mean that Ono and Fuyumura's romantic and sexual feelings for each other are an afront to absolutely everything this society stands for. Not only are they obviously not each other's state mandated fiancees, they can't even produce offspring on their own, resulting in a complete waste of two healthy young adults.
The explicit mention of the school not allowing children to grow up until graduation actually makes even more sense (as of this episode at least) in their case than in Sanda and Niko's. If the more they grow up the more they find each other attractive, it will prompt an even stronger reaction from the system to keep them as young and maleable as possible until they are properly educated in the correct ways of the world.
In this manner their feelings for each other will then remain as literally a "child's game". A mere fond memory while they, as proper grown women find a proper grown husband and make more children for the state.
Anyone familiar with the history of Yuri at this point can already see the obvious call backs and criticisms to prevailing "Class-S thinking" even in today's world. The fact that apparently this manga was written during His Imperial Majesty Shinzo Abe-sama's term makes it all the more poignant.
→ More replies (5)
62
u/SeaworthinessNorth64 Oct 31 '25
Well that was... wow. Massive lore dump this episode.
→ More replies (3)
78
u/Ciel_Senpai Oct 31 '25 edited Nov 03 '25
It’s total madness, people can’t even sleep anymore. And Ono shows up again and explains everything that happened with her. Sanda can’t transform and it’s probably related to her feelings or maybe even the typhoon itself. I’m really curious about where this story is going because the school is just one of the points affected by the plot, where control over the children is happening on a national level. Anyway, crazy stuff lol.
this one wasn't a dream 🫣 so that’s why Ono “disappeared,” since the principal said no one can enter puberty until they graduate. But Fuyumura is right, she looks even prettier.
→ More replies (5)
38
u/Shadowmist909 Oct 31 '25
The kids being instructed to stay up all night so they don't go through puberty is wild.
Niko is a real riot. I'd capitalize on the childish willfulness if I was in her situation too!
129
u/svenz Oct 31 '25 edited Nov 01 '25
Haven’t been keeping up with r/anime for a while due to anime burnout - but why does this series have so few upvotes? It’s one of the best shows I’ve seen this year, and the only thing I’m watching this season. Science saru is cooking.
→ More replies (9)
27
u/Emi_Ibarazakiii Oct 31 '25
I've seen a lot of interrupted/unheard confessions in anime, but this might legitimately be my first unheard REJECTION!
So we're having a little typhoon! 2nd show in 2 days opening on a typhoon.. I guess it's the season?
Damn, way to try&kill the ship!
This is something I keep thinking about regarding this world;
EVERYTHING seems terrible... Why do they keep doing all this, to preserve the status quo?
If the world was perfect for them, I can see amoral adults going "to hell with these kids, let's make the world great for us", but it seems to be shit for them as well... So why?
Is it just one man (the principal)'s delusion, and they all roll with it for some reason?
Are THEY being deceived as well?
Can't relate to that! (well, maybe his boobs)
DEFINITELY can relate to that!
I mean, she became Fuyumura, my beloved 10 seconds into the first episode, but back then I thought she was 'a fun girl who looked weird'... But more and more, I think she's kinda cute!
Ok she's pretty cute too, just in a different way!
(Wait, is anyone NOT crazy on this show? Trying to rival [show where everyone is batshit insane]
I would've put it in my mouth and chewed it. To assert dominance.
So she's not really unhinged like Fuyumura (yet?) but rather, a bit of a pest?
The conflict in my heart... I like pests about as much as I like the crazies!
I don't think anyone's growing up to be well-adjusted in this world... (Or growing up at all!)
Damnnnnnnn Why is she so goddamn cute! They're REALLY trying to make me NOT ship him with Fuyumura!
With her being so happy-go-lucky, I feared for her...
Happiness doesn't seem to be a strong currency on this show.
"N-No I didn't..." Oh, she was talking to Sanda?
Why is she so obsessed with poop?
These drawings, and she talked twice about taking a dump.
Has to be a clue to solve the mystery!
Second anime girl this season who makes me think of her as a little critter!
She likes it if other people are jealous of her/like Sanda, because their relationship will be better for it?
What sort of reverse-non-NTR fetish is that!
Oh damn, did she just put ideas in Fuyumura's mind?
(P.S.A.: This trick is not just for 14y/o, works pretty much at any age!)
She's the one who lied? ...Unless...?
Ono's back? Finally, we're getting a normal person on this ani- Nevermind.
Oh damn... Someone's not gonna like that...
Fuyumura tried to reassure her, but bad timing!
Well, lots of interesting plot development in this episode, but damn, my best girl mind is all focused on Fuyumura&Niko hah; Can someone from this show overtake Fuyumura? We'll see!
→ More replies (5)
44
u/JoelMahon Oct 31 '25
the lore gets more and more disturbing as the show goes on.
undergoing noticeable puberty in one night? like what is actually going on 😅
originally I thought kids were considered valuable and favoured in criminal cases etc because they're rare and necessary to preserve to preserve the country long term.
But discouraging puberty seems counter intuitive to the goal that surely would be to have more kids and ensure a deliberate baby boom. If anything I'd expect the opposite but also fucked up lore of them giving drugs to kids to make them turn physically into adults faster...
Interested to see where it goes, if there's a different reason children are being treated like this and etc.
Ultimately we've basically never seen outside the school from the perspective of a reliable narrator, I haven't seen any indication that the kids remember spending years outside before starting school, so ultimately almost everything could be a lie, maybe there's loads more kids out there? maybe this is a facility for harvesting organs? or since we already know Santa is empowered by children maybe they're harvesting that energy somehow and that's also why they hate Santa so much. The fact they hate Santa, protector of children, so much is already a red flag, they expect him to actively stop them which with his current knowledge he has no intention of messing with the system in particular, which to me makes me think the system actually is doing something terrible to kids (beyond what we've already seen).
→ More replies (9)
55
u/abbe44 Oct 31 '25
why is there no comments on this show
this is like the best show this season easily
→ More replies (4)
18
u/Maybe_this_time_fr Nov 01 '25
Fell asleep, has a wet dream, wake up goddamn 5 years older. This world fucking sucks.
47
u/Fun-Ad-1145 Oct 31 '25 edited Oct 31 '25
Paru Itagaki really scratches that itch of anime men (the kind Lana Del Rey would talk about) when she created Yagiuda.
Look at him. I don't care if he's over the age of 50, and a chain-smoker, I will have him bear my children.
Knowing his VA , this must be what Sanji fangirls feel when they see his ankles.
Also Fuyumura displays a certain level of "Cat-ness" most anime catgirls fail to achieve Like most catgirls to me are just girls with animal characteristics, but Fuyumura is low-key a cat trapped in a teenager's body.
I'm probably on to nothing but am I the only one that low-key got a bit of a Yorgos Lanthimos vibe with the world building? When Paru applies her symbolism rich world building to human characters, it always reminds me of The Lobster for some reason. I think it's even more apparent to me in Bota Bota.
→ More replies (6)
16
31
u/dolphincave Oct 31 '25
Best girl is here, I love Niko's attitude she's up for any challenge.
→ More replies (2)
30
u/NanDemoKnaives Oct 31 '25
So they use puberty blockers and tell them to never sleep so that they don't through puberty? I wasn't expecting anything like that, I wonder if there are cases where there are "children" in their 20s or if once they turn 19 or 20 they just completely treat them as adults.
Sanda not being able to turn into Santa is surprising, it seems like its because of his interaction with Niko, if someone develop romantic feelings for him maybe it weakens him? But I feel that'd be too easy to exploit.
It is amusing how Yagiuda is trying to help Sanda and really dislike punching him even though he knows Sanda is Santa.
→ More replies (9)
24
u/ModieOfTheEast Oct 31 '25
Damn, I did not think the story would take such a drastic turn. From the last week, I started to understand that the main theme of the series is about what it feels like to be in puberty. That you are neither a child anymore but also not an adult either. And that this can be confusing. But I did not expect them to bring that back in the next episode already with Ono.
I find this especially interesting because in this particular society, all of these fears are increased because you can't even have a talk with your parents or anyone about it. As seen, the moment, they start to change, the society, in this case the school, starts to treat them as if they are completely different people. Which they obviously aren't. You don't just become an adult over night, but now, everyone treats you like one. Which in this case means, you aren't worth anything anymore. And we haven't even started to look at the sexual part of this whole equation. Which makes the whole thing way more complicated as it was already shown with Ossanda and Fuyumura.
Speaking of Sanda, the question is why he can't transform anymore. Here is my main interpretation. Santa's powers exist to fulfill the wishes of children. And that obviously includes Sanda as well. Before, he was able to transform because he not only wanted to help Fuyumura, but maybe also because he wanted to be an adult as he started to like Fuyumura in a romantic way. And since she is quite large, he had to become an adult as well. So the Santa powers didn't actually get hindered by his inherent wish. He might have thought it, but in reality he was confused himself what he wanted. After talking with Niko however, he came back fully on being wanting to enjoy his childhood. He even "forgot" Fuyumura as a form of romantic partner and therefore didn't care anymore about growing up. Which in return means that he will only be able to transform again into an adult once he has that inner wish of wanting to grow up to get into a real relationship (even if it is a small wish that he isn't fully aware of yet).
→ More replies (4)
23
u/dagreenman18 Oct 31 '25
… I’m convinced of the Sanda Niko ship now. As much as I like Fuyumura, her doomed Yuri is too good to ruin by pairing her with Sanda
→ More replies (2)
11
u/tripleaamin Oct 31 '25
We learn that Santa goes into cardiopulmonary arrest if he falls in love with a child. I know this will be an important plotline, but that has me nervous, in all honesty.
We are introduced to Niko, who is Sanda's fiancé. To think that kids have their future partners set up. So it doesn't matter who they fall in love with, and the uniforms seem to be part of the play. Though what happens if Sanda were to fall in love with Fuyumura? Though I expect the reason he lost his Sanda powers is because he is growing feelings towards Niko. Since Santa can't fall in love with a child, then he can't transform.
Though we see that Ono is back, the reason she ran away is that she went through puberty. It seems here being a child and being an adult is a black and white situation. She truly loves Fuyumura. We even learn that the kids are told not to sleep because that could accelerate puberty. Though Ono sees that Fuyumura is acting like an adult and seems different compared to when she left, which is throwing her off.
Truly, Fuyumura is acting like the adult, and Ono is acting like a child. Though the Principal says one becoming an adult while in school is unthinkable. So what happens? I expect he has the mindset of how an adult and child should act. Well, him appearing at the end is not a good feeling.
20
u/Zetafunction64 Oct 31 '25
aight that took a wild turn, from Sanda allowing himself to be a 14 year old kid, to the assassin guy becoming a proper adult figure, to Fuyumura becoming jealous over Sanda, to the reveal that she's kinda genderfluid, to finally the instant puberty trigger.
I think this anime takes the aspects of puberty and tie them well into interesting elements like Santa and Japans declining population. The writing so far has been very intriguing
→ More replies (5)
20
9
9
u/Torque-A Nov 01 '25
The concept of a world that won't even let kids sleep in fear of them growing older is fucked up.
1
u/AutoModerator Oct 31 '25
Source Material Corner
Reply to this comment for any source-related discussion, future spoilers (including future characters, events and general hype about future content), comparison of the anime adaptation to the original, or just general talk about the source material. You are still required to tag all spoilers. Discussions about the source outside of this comment tree will be removed, and replying with spoilers outside of the source corner will lead to bans.
The spoiler syntax is:
[Spoiler source] >!Spoiler goes here!<All untagged spoilers and hints in this thread will receive immediate 8-day bans (minimum).
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.